Association News

Standards aid in electrical transmission efficiency.

Press Release Summary:

Feb 18, 2009 -
Two ASTM International standards will be useful in providing transmission cable that will make most of existing infrastructure in gaining electrical transmission efficiency. They include B957, Specification for Extra-High-Strength and Ultra-High-Strength Zinc-Coated Steel Core Wire for Overhead Electrical Conductors, and B958, Specification for Extra-High-Strength and Ultra-High-Strength Class A Zinc-5% Aluminum-Mischmetal Alloy-Coated Steel Core Wire for Use in Overhead Electrical Conductors.

Original Press Release

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., 11 February 2009-Two new ASTM International standards for steel core wire will be useful in providing transmission cable that will make the most of the existing infrastructure in gaining electrical transmission efficiency.

The standards - B957, Specification for Extra-High-Strength and Ultra-High-Strength Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel Core Wire for Overhead Electrical Conductors, and B958, Specification for Extra-High-Strength and Ultra-High-Strength Class A Zinc-5% Aluminum-Mischmetal Alloy-Coated Steel Core Wire for Use in Overhead Electrical Conductors - were developed by Subcommittee B01.05 on Conductors of Ferrous Metals, part of ASTM International Committee B01 on Electrical Conductors.

According to King, increasing demands for electricity, combined with a decreasing availability of system expansion resources, has created the need for electrical utilities to find ways to maximize existing infrastructure to gain electrical transmission efficiency. "One way to achieve this is to make an electrical transmission cable that can be installed in such a way to allow higher operating temperatures without sacrificing safety or limiting the cable life," says King, who is chair of Subcommittee B01.05. "The limiting factor has always been the steel strength and temperature resistance."

However, the development of new steels and coatings, as covered in B957 and B958, allows utilities and transmission cable designers more flexibility to increase electrical transmission capacity with minimal investments. Electrical transmission cable manufacturers will be the primary users of the standards.

ASTM International standards are available for purchase from Customer Service (phone: 610-832-9585; service@astm.org) or at www.astm.org. For technical Information, contact Dale King, Bekaert Corp., Van Buren, Ark., (phone: 479-474-5211, ext. 174; dale.king@bekaert.com). Committee B01 meets April 22-23 during the April committee week in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. ASTM's open consensus process, using advanced Internet-based standards development tools, ensures worldwide access for all interested individuals. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, please contact Jennifer Rodgers, ASTM International (phone: 610-832-9694; jrodgers@astm.org).

Established in 1898, ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions around the globe.

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